Lesotho

Maseru

ArchitectuArchitecture style re style similar to similar to a a traditional traditional Sesotho Sesotho hat. hat.

Basotho Basotho HatHat

Independent since Independent since 1966, and formerly 1966, and formerly known as known as Basutoland, Lesotho Basutoland, Lesotho has a population of has a population of about 2 million about 2 million people. The people. The Basotho, largely Basotho, largely from Bantu origin from Bantu origin are Sesotho are Sesotho speaking. They speaking. They recognize a king, recognize a king, Letsie III, who Letsie III, who assumed the throne assumed the throne in 1996, following in 1996, following the death of his the death of his father King father King Moshoeshoe II.Moshoeshoe II.

Kingdom of LesKingdom of Lesothootho

Sesotho:

Khotso e be teng lefatšengKhotso e be teng Lesotho

English:

May peace prevail on earth.May peace be in Lesotho.

This This landlocked country, the size of Belgium, is delimited by a mountainous natural border and is entirely surrounded by South Africa, on which it is economically dependent.

Enclave

The Katse Dam, funded by the South African Government, allows Lesotho to produce about 90% of its own electrical power needs.Lesotho to produce about 90% of its own electrical power needs.

Hydroelectricity

Industry

A small manufacturing base has developed based on A small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries, as well as a rapidly expanding and jute industries, as well as a rapidly expanding apparel-assembly sector. apparel-assembly sector.

An effort by the An effort by the European Union European Union to assure to assure humane working humane working conditions in the conditions in the apparel industry.apparel industry.

At one factory, women workers reported being At one factory, women workers reported being searched (by women supervisors) every day when searched (by women supervisors) every day when leaving. Workers from this factory were raped walking leaving. Workers from this factory were raped walking home from late overtime work but management still home from late overtime work but management still refused to provide late night transport.refused to provide late night transport.

““Lesotho Lesotho Promise” Promise” diamonddiamond

The only independent state in the world that lies entirely The only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation.above 1,000 meters in elevation.

PlateauPlateau

There are only about There are only about 90 doctors for the 90 doctors for the two million people two million people living in Lesotho, a living in Lesotho, a small, landlocked small, landlocked country in southern country in southern Africa, where the Africa, where the World Health World Health Organization Organization estimates that nearly estimates that nearly one of every four one of every four adults, and more adults, and more than 30 percent of than 30 percent of pregnant women, are pregnant women, are HIV-positive.HIV-positive.

Links to LesothoLinks to Lesotho

• CIA.gov/world-factbook/Lesotho• Wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesotho• edu/today/2007/09/16/writing-new-prescription-lesotho• Celtnet.org.uk/recipes/lesotho.php• Trek Earth.com/LesothoTrek Earth.com/Lesotho• State.gov/lesotho_woman_2007_02_17State.gov/lesotho_woman_2007_02_17• Fashioning an Ethical Industry.org/Image+bank+factories/Fashioning an Ethical Industry.org/Image+bank+factories/